Accuracy of NATO attacks having desired effects

Courtesy Photo | Members of the news media receive an operational update on Operation Unified Protector in Naples, Italy, April 6. (Photo by POWEM(R) Hampson, UKRN)  

NAPLES, ITALY

04.06.2011

Courtesy Story

Allied Joint Force Command Naples     

NAPLES, Italy - Full text of speech given at the Press Conference held in Naples on April 6 by Rear Adm. Russell Harding OBE, Deputy Commander of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Unified Protector.

Ladies and Gentlemen... welcome to Naples and thank you very much for being here today.

Last Thursday, Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard, the commander of NATO's Combined Joint Task Force Operation Unified Protector announced that NATO had assumed full responsibility for air and maritime operations in support of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat in Libya.

Today I would like to update you on our first five days of full operations, something we hope to do regularly. The next one will be Friday, and then weekly.

Acting under UN mandate, the NATO mission has maintained enforcement of the air and maritime embargo on Libya, has enforced the No-Fly Zone and has moved with determination to protect the people of Libya from attack.

On April 1, the NATO-led international coalition force of naval vessels, submarines and aircraft commenced strikes against mobile military sites and air defence systems along the Libyan coast.

This action prevents attack on Alliance aircraft allowing for enforcement of the No-Fly Zone, and prevents the use of heavy weaponry against Libyan civilians whom the government famously told could expect 'no mercy'.

Although limited by poor weather for a few days, Alliance air assets have effectively engaged Libyan combat forces on the ground to mitigate their capabilities and protect the areas toward which they have advanced.

You will be aware that, over the past few days, Libyan government forces have increasingly shifted to non-conventional tactics, blending in with road traffic and using civilian life as a shield for their advance. As a consequence, they have moved in the direction of Ajdabiya, posing a direct threat to that city, and beyond that, to Benghazi.

In response, NATO has pursued direct strikes on advancing forces and their logistical and munitions supply chains.

NATO has also used surgical air strikes to sever the main supply route between Ajdibaya and Misrata.

In doing so, NATO forces have been particularly careful to avoid injury to civilians who are in close proximity to the fighting, often precisely because of the tactics of government forces.

This action has been directed by Bouchard to slow down advancing forces, in order to prevent attacks on Libyan civilians and to support the wider international effort to end the fighting within the framework of UNSCR 1973.

These strikes achieved their main effect, reducing the capacity of government forces to threaten the lives or besiege the cities of the Libyan people.

Indeed, we believe we have reduced by up to 30% the Libyan military capacity which has been mobilized for aggressive action. We have also rendered their air force inoperative and we have seriously degraded their air defences.

These last are critical factors in ensuring civilian protection.

Today, Operation Unified Protector has more than 100 fighter and support aircraft in action as well as a dozen naval vessels from several nations operating under NATO command.

We have achieved a seamless transition from coalition Odyssey Dawn and are resolved to demonstrate the same commitment and effectiveness.

NATO is operating under a very clear international legal mandate and with broad regional support.

It will take action against any party that threatens aggression or violence, or acts in contravention of UNSCR 1973.

We have the resources and the will to achieve that mandate from the international community and I would like to express thanks to all of the contributing nations - and in particular to the United States as it transitions to a supporting role - for the assets and people they have committed to this mission.

I would now like to clarify an issue that has been reported in the news media.

Some media and TNC leaders have stated that NATO has picked sides and at the same time that we have mostly been destroying Libyan military targets.

Let me be clear: we will attack any forces that mean to harm innocent civilians.

I would remind you that it is Col. Gadhafi who has stated he will show no mercy to his own population, and it is his military that has shelled civilians, bombed cities and continues to threaten innocents.

Again, we will attack any forces that mean harm to the civilian population.

Thank you very much indeed for taking the time to visit our facility today. We continue to carry out our mission to protect the people of Libya during this conflict.

As you can understand, I do have to attend to my duties but I can take a few questions.

Thank you.

• Date Taken: 04.06.2011
• Date Posted: 04.06.2011 13:46
• Story ID: 68360
• Location: NAPLES, IT